By Robin Gericke, News Editor
Dr. Sandra Gray, Asbury’s first female president, announced her retirement from Asbury during the first chapel of the semester. The Asbury Collegian sat down with Dr. Gray to talk about her announcement, her time at Asbury and her plans for the future.
“One of my goals when I was appointed as president was to build a bridge between the past and the future, and I believe we have made good progress,” Dr. Gray said. “The theme for my inauguration was: ‘Informed by the past, building for the future.’ To this end, I have attempted to lead in a manner that builds on the strength of our past but recognizes that we serve this generation best by looking forward.”
Dr. Gray has always sought God’s lead in showing her the timing of his calling. She has no other job that she is leaving for; she just prayed that God would show her when this season was ending just as he called her into the presidency. “I am stepping out of Asbury, and I have no other place I am going. But the Lord had just showed me that this era, this season, is complete. He’s lifted my assignment at Asbury. It’s a great joy to be here,” Dr. Gray said.
Although her last day is June 30, Dr. Gray’s remaining time at Asbury will be no different. “I will continue this year as if I’m going to be here forever,” she said. “I am so focused and committed on giving everything to this year. In fact, I have a to do list that’s probably three years long that I want to compress into this year.” Two items on that to do list are hiring a provost and finishing the Ignited campaign. “I am absolutely intending to complete the Ignited campaign,” she said. It is a $62 million campaign, and about $58 million has been raised so far. “We are very close, and I am praying that we will be able to complete it,” Dr. Gray said. “We would love to be able to get a shovel in the ground in the summer before I leave. But that said, God uses many hands, so I have no thought that I’m the only one who can do this. If it doesn’t happen by the end of the summer, I am certain someone coming in can complete it very quickly.”
She has high hopes for the impact of Asbury even after she leaves. “Asbury is 128 years old. There were 16 presidents before me, and there will be the 18th and the 19th and the 20th as long as God tarries,” she said. “My hope and dream and desire and prayer is that Asbury will increasingly have a strong voice of influence, a strong impact that makes a difference for the kingdom person by person, community by community, workplace to workplace. … [M]y complete belief is that God has someone who will step into follow me, as he has done for those before me, who will take Asbury into its next season of impact.”
The search committee has already been formed to find that next president. “As to succession, my personality and desire would have been to work until the last day, then say ‘today’s my last day’ and leave because I don’t like transitions of this nature,” Dr. Gray said. “But because of the way Christian higher ed works, it really will take nine months to a year for a president to be identified.” The Board of Trustees is responsible for finding and hiring a new president, and they are already forming a search committee comprised of faculty, staff, board members and alumni. It will be a national search, though the committee will also look internally at current Asbury employees. Dr. Gray is an example of an employee being hired as president through a national search.
“As to the word ‘retirement,’ I really don’t consider myself retiring,” Dr. Gray said. “I do believe that the Lord calls us to be active in his kingdom, so I’m going to work until Jesus comes. I love serving him; I love people. That’s why I’m really not calling this retirement. I’m not going to sit. I’m asking the Lord to just put me to use.”
Dr. Gray will be leaving Asbury with the Merciful class, and she has parting advice to share with the seniors. “Live up to your namesake,” she said. “God has extended mercy to you. He extends mercy to each one of us, and we also need to live with a heart of grace and mercy towards other people. I would pray in a good way that God would break your heart for the things that break his heart and that he would call you to serve others as he does. Let it be your prayer every day to say ‘Lord, help me see others today as you see them, and may I live out your love for them.’”
